2015 Toyota Tundra, 4Runner, Tacoma TRD Pro First Drive

Shocks for Days

If you're serious about performance off-roading, chances are you love talking about suspension. And not in an overly simplistic way, like dropping brand names or making statements like "long-stroke shockz iz better." Your topics include shock absorber extended and collapsed lengths, the pros and cons of air bump-stops, and the side effect of lifts on suspension geometry. This is the language spoken by off-road enthusiasts. This is the language spoken by Toyota Racing Development.

The TRD Pro Series story began two years ago, back when it wasn't a series yet. Looking to inject some pizzazz into the truck lineup, the Tundra was earmarked as TRD's first off-road pet project. Then the 4Runner and Tacoma were brought into the mix. It makes sense. The 4Runner has the adventurous reputation with a more affordable entry price point than the Land Cruiser. Forty percent of all Tacomas sold today have TRD packages already. It's best to think of TRD Pro as akin to what F Sport represents to Lexus, in that these are dedicated models and not dress-up treatments. Rumor has it if all goes well, the TRD Pro ethos could spread to produce on-road enhancements for Toyota's cars.

Since the Tundra serves as the halo within what's destined to be the TRD Pro halo sub-brand, it received more TLC. It'll be peddled in extended or crew-cab form, fitted with the 5.7-liter V-8, 4WD, and a TRD cat-back exhaust system. Exterior modifications consist of a burly-looking front grille with a Toyota badge mimicking those found on FJ40 Land Cruisers, "TRD Pro" stampings on the quarter bed panels, a quarter-inch-thick aluminum front skidplate with a handy panel to access the oil sump, and 18-inch TRD wheels. All TRD Pro vehicles come with TRD floormats and shift knobs, but Tundra alone adds red stitching on the seats and a special instrument panel insert. The Tundra and 4Runner knob designs were inspired by Audi and Porsche efforts.

Now, the meat and potatoes. Much time and energy were spent tuning the suspension, and the Tundra is packing serious heat. There's at least one TRD engineer looking forward to the inevitable comparisons between it and Ford's F-150 SVT Raptor. The front starts with lower-rate Eibach springs, selected to help raise the nose two inches and give the tires greater opportunity to track off-road surfaces. The coilover shocks were developed with Bilstein and utilize a 2.5-inch body (generally what you'd anticipate for a factory-backed off-road truck) to yield 2 more precious inches of downward wheel travel. Internally, the main piston is 30 percent larger than a standard Tundra's (60mm versus 46), but the real trick lies with a smaller secondary piston (less than half the larger's size) complementing the main one in especially large compressions. (Think when really big bumps come a-knockin'.) Toyota calls the net effect "3-stage position-sensitive valving." There were compromises, of course. The lengthy monotube shock is even longer, and the second piston's physical presence necessitated a remote reservoir to support the damping motions and heat-dissipation requirements. The Tundra is the only TRD Pro ride with this style of shock and with reservoirs hiding in the tightly packaged front.

As is typical with this kind of off-road runner, the truck feels better the faster it can go. On a relatively well-groomed dirt trail with abundant dips of all shapes and sizes, the Tundra TRD Pro was never disturbed. Road feel and steering response are excellent at highway speeds, and the shocks excel in these high-speed conditions by not allowing hectic cab motions or sensations that one or more tires are having trouble staying on the ground overwhelm the driver. In 2WD, you can generate all manner of immense V-8 wheelspin on demand, but the truck endures with a planted balance that leaves the impression you're always in control. We later discovered that under the elegant command of Baja racing luminary Ivan "Ironman" Stewart, the Tundra can power through deeper plunges -- ones we had gingerly crept in and out of on our run -- with a plusher than expected ride. If the truck was bottoming or topping out, it did a good job hiding it.

Compared to the Tundra, the 4Runner and Tacoma are a bit of a letdown, but are quite capable in their own rights. Part of the feeling boils down to the different courses Toyota used to show off the three vehicles: three tracks for three trucks. The Tacoma, which will also be sold as an extended or crew-cab and with its own TRD exhaust system, ran through a gravelly fire road before navigating what appeared to be a long-dried-up and narrow river bed; the 4Runner had a route with considerably more sharp rock edges and tail-dragging depressions to manage. While the Tacoma felt like it used the most of its TRD Pro potential and sent more of its suspension chatter into the cabin, the 4Runner was yawning at its lower-speed challenge. The eye-opener on the 4Runner was the Trail model-based interior, which is pretty nice nowadays. Both offer the steering and brake predictability and sensitivity you want for off-roading.Furthermore, the 4Runner and Tacoma are similar at the component level. The exteriors are touched up with black badges, unique front grilles, and TRD alloys. Both sub in softer Eibach springs for the front axle, creating a 1-inch and 2-inch lift for the 4Runner and Taco, respectively. Bilstein 2.5-inch coilover monotube shocks contribute an extra inch of travel to both. The two retain their factory leaf and coil springs in the rear, bolstered by upgraded 2.0-inch shocks with remote reservoirs. Travel increases 1.5 inches out back for the Tacoma and 1 inch for the 4Runner. Tire selections are 265/70-16 (30.5s) BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KOs on the Taco and 265/70-17 (31.5s) Nitto Terra Grapplers on the 4Runner. Anti-roll bars and rubber bump stops are unchanged from their non-Pro counterparts for all three.

Tying the three TRD Pros together is the 3-year/36,000-mile factory warranty and the assertion that the large shocks will keep on going in harsh conditions where other OE dampers would fade away. Durability testing was carried out in California's vast southeastern desert. We heard that one day during desert testing the TRD team was advised by a local to not take their stock-looking vehicles through a difficult obstacle. They went anyway and made it.There's tremendous anticipation surrounding the trio. Toyota plans to assemble just 7500 TRD Pro 4Runners, Tacomas, and Tundras for the 2015 model year, and last we heard, customer interest has been spectacular. If you're late to the game, you may be best off trying for a 4Runner. Projected demand for the Tacoma is running three times greater than expected supply, the Tundra is seeing about two raised hands for each truck, and the 4Runner is about where it's predicted to sell. But if all you really want are the individual suspension parts for your own 4Runner, Tacoma, or Tundra, you'll be able to order them over the dealer parts counter soon after the entire series is released this fall.That's not what the Ironman will be doing, though. He'll take his future Tundra TRD Pro in black..

I can't wait to get my 2015 TRD Taco, After having owned an FJ40, FJ Cruiser, and 2 4runners I am ready for the best all around truck out there. And for the Chevy, Jeep, Ford lovers. Take your story elsewhere. I own one of each and know the garbage they are. As an off-road enthusiast I can only speak for what I have witnessed while driving my highly modified TJ, there is nothing out there that takes more beating than a Tacoma and drives you home at the end of the day.

The facts that all these unintelligent toyota haters cannot even lie their way around or change with stupid statements made up and repeated over and over ……….Toyota won more and continues to win more Baja races than all other "trucks" combined PERIOD thats what TRD does better than ANYONE ELSE !!!!!

While I do not doubt the new GM compact trucks are superior to the Tacoma in many ways, the demand for the Toyota is not surprising. Because of Tacoma's high resale value, the cost of ownership will probably remain lower than it will for a new Colorado. A lot of people who may be wary of a used Chevy seem okay with overpaying for a used Toyota, even a TRD model intended for off-road use. You can't really fault Toyota for not spending big money improving the Tacoma when it has no real competition and they can sell every one they make. How long did Ford continue to roll out it's outdated Ford Crown Vic when it was pretty much the only vehicle in its category?

Only after you have driven the trucks can you say "it sucks" or "it's awesome". Only valid comments here atm are how the specs hold up and if the paint looks nice (the last one is a particularly rousing discussion). Since they are limited production numbers it is sad to say that most comments will be nothing but air since car mags can't hand over the keys to you.

I think the tundra looks awesome and the 4Runner front look like crap. Toyota gave the worst front look on the 4runner. But the Tundra looks great and I would buy it any day of week before I buy a Chevy, Dodge, or Ford. Toyota is one of few car manufacture that you can drive their vehicle and get 200,000 miles without having to change anything not even a fuel pump, or the timing belt. That right folks, I'm one those customer that has Toyota Sequoia, Chevy Suburban, and Ford a Expedition and only Toyota could achieve those miles. We use these vehicle to transport people to home and work on the Interstate I95 northeast corridor.

It saddens me the majority tone of this thread. People throwing out that the Raptor already has it beat while most of the people posting have not ever driven a Raptor extensively and while no general public has had even access to the TRD Pro set. Why not reserve your comments until you try both, instead of looking like a doof with fandom. I think its a start and hope it does well, and I'll be glad to see competition on both sides, makes better trucks for LESS money. In my opinion, TRD has some proving to do, its products are fare, but are overpriced in the aftermarket. What is great is the aftermarket world out there, which is where Toyota can shine. If this is a successful series, I can't wait for the trickle down turbo motors incoming, or an update form of the 3UR supercharged. As for the Ford fanboys, anybody can get their suspensions replaced, but hows that Raptor motor gonna look at 150,000. I'd love to see the cylinder compression comparison on that.

The way you MT editors gush about Toyota and this "suspension" you would think they came up with or invented the concept ... sorry Ford beat them to the punch by three years ... even GMC did a concept a year ago ... and Toyota why not come up with some original names ... as opposed to copying Platinum, etc. And the color is puke too ... sorry, you can and should do better ...

I have some bad news. While this thing will not even give a current Raptor a run, they have captured spy photos of a next gen Raptor testing that will probably show up for the 16 model year. You want a true off-road icon with amazing capability? Get a Raptor or Power Wagon. You want a mild lift kit and sticker package to look like you are driving an off-road vehicle, this is for you.......

Really, Motortrend? Hiding my comment from public view because it
has the words "d | ck-measuring contest"? I'm sorry, does that offend the
editors of the magazine who put ads for p@ nis-enlargement pills and sex
pillows in the back of every paper issue? You know, the pillow with
the hottie bent over it, waiting for her "one sweet ride"?

As usual Toyota is way late to the dance, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery , so I guess the Raptor should feel flattered, and will finally have a competitor, even if it's a weak one. And Toyota will have a truck for which they can skin the faithful for money well above sticker price.

@Psyprof06hey, hurry those superior GM's are flying off the lots...LMAO, I went yesterday to the largest So. Fla Toyo dealer to see if they had the new Tacoma, the response was... no new, no used, no 14's either, we just can't stock them for a day. While the GM dealer by my house advertises $10,000 off any truck and they are dusty. Take a cold reality shower. Toyo is superior to the last bolt.

I have had plenty of GM, and Mopars go 200-300K without any failures you mention while My Wifes 04 Honda Civic with 2nd manual trans just sits with a failed Valve train at only 180k, my Sons 02 Camry engine spun a main bearing at nearly the same mark.

I have to ask what "timing belt" do you speak of that you had to change on your "Suburban and Expedition"?

@jraachs So true! The problem is people still get all pissy about "American Made" when they don't realize that the Tundra and Tacoma, like many other models are made in the USA! I've done my US Army time, and the truth is all the brands make some decent models, and others suck! I am fairly loyal to Toyota now, but that's because when you drive a car like a 99 Corolla for 13 years and literally do NOTHING but change the oil, that's awesome! Then you have a 1997 Ford F150, LOADED, pay top dollar, and it literally just slowly falls apart, even with no use for heavy towing, work, and things just break, 3 transmissions, bad engine piston, rear main seal, radiator, all the power windows, on & on, you appreciate cars that last. And that F150 was traded in at only 115,000 miles on it, and that's right after the engine cylinder went bad. As for the Tacoma, it's a great truck and worth the money! And the Raptor is cool, but really overpriced, the Tacoma TRD Pro is being estimated at a sticker around 34k, I'll take that at about 30,500 which is what dealers will sell them for.

@BMW guy from SMF Really, so Toyota copied Ford? So far from true! TRD has been around for a long time with a proven track record. The Raptor doesn't hold up well long-term, read any reliable reviews. Who wants to spend all that money and have to replace everything? The reality is that every company steals ideas now & then, but it's the original that keeps on improving. IPHONE is a perfect example, it's the best phone to use, but the others are good to. Ford makes nice stuff now, they sucked for a long time, GM is nice, but Ford and GM can't make a mid-size truck that's worth anything!

@Stew That's terrible news, and you know that because the new Raptor you found "Leaked pictures" of showed you every detail of the truck, inside and out? Or did you look at it and get a tiny chubby because it looked like it was a big "off road monster"? WOW!

Since you haven't driven the TRD PRO, and likely haven't driven a Raptor, perhaps you took your tricycle out today, then why comment? I'm not even a fanboy, I just think making stupid comments based on 0 evidence is annoying. It would be better to at least have some facts. But run along and write Ford on your head and then pretend that Toyota trucks are terrible, but then again, that's why it is a FACT that the TRD Tacoma wins the BAJA year after year!

Late to what dance, killing off their compact truck and turning their formerly rugged SUVs into low-riding carpool conveyances? Considering the only off-road ready vehicles Ford currently makes are certain versions of the F-series, I'd bite your tongue. Ranger gone. Expedition and Explorer are fat mommy mobiles. When you have a Tacoma and 4Runner competitor again, you can chime in. But then it will be Ford who is late to the dance.

@DriveThru@Joe Valcik Yes, I know, Platinum, Ford invented that to :) You know what, Toyota must have copied the Tire color to, notice how they are black? WTF! That's wrong, they should have used purple

@autobug2 @Emajor75 I am sorry you have nowhere to enjoy such trucks, some of us do and it is abilt the TRUCK'S ability, the Raptor simply has more PERIOD. Go compensate with {insert whatever sportscar here) if you need to, usually if you have such a grudge against trucks it is because they are bigger than your (insert whatever hybrid or Japanese compact you drive here).

@Emajor75@grabberblue302 Sorry dude, Toyota is trying to taking on the Raptor with a lift kit and sticker package and they are doing in the last year of the current gen. You realize also they did what HAD to be done for the Explorer because BOF just does not sell in midsize SUVs anymore. Proof is in the pudding as Ford sells nearly 3 times as many Explorers as Toyota sells 4Runners, even the highlander outsells the 4Runner by 2 to 1. Good businesses make good business decisions and hopefully is the GM twins do well we will see the return of the Ranger and hopefully the Dakota. the Tacoma and it's ancient design are about to become obsolete........

@Emajor75 @grabberblue302 Yes, Toyota is late to the dance, Ford has been making the F series since 1948, Toyota started the Tundra in 1999, the Raptor has been around since 2010, Toyota is only making an off road tundra now, get it, 5 years later, get it , 5 years later !!! This means Toyota is only making this truck after seeing the success of the Raptor. Geeez wake up ?

@Stew You are so annoying, these people aren't trying to over compensate, it sounds like you just want to justify being that dork that drives a big off-road truck to your desk job each day, because you can afford it since you live in mom's basement and have no girlfriend. How do you know what anyone drives? Maybe, just maybe, the reason there aren't that many Raptors sold, and of course the TRD Pro will be a niche market is because not everyone will spend the money to buy an off-road beast if they don't need it. Personally I would buy it just because when I did go off-road it would be fun and you only live once. But don't whine because people don't like your pink Raptor and your high heels sissy boy.

the Ranger had a few points the Tacoma did not as being the last REAL compact truck. I probably have a soft spot for it though as had one for well over 200k miles and it ran like champ and had fun in it. That said they quit making both the Colorado and Ranger over THREE YEARS ago, the Tacoma was not so outdated then (really the ranger didn't change a whole hell of a lot from 93 0n so I do give you that point). Also, you realize they STILL sold over 70,000 Rangers in it's last years when they stopped producing them WAY before the year ended. Like i said, old maybe, but people liked it. GM just screwed the pooch with the Colorado and Canyon, but are fixing that now. Anyways, the fact is the Tacoma is outdated, if the Canyon and Colorado do not outsell it, then it truly shows the effect Toyota has on the Sheeple..... And I respond because i am bored and duid prove my point in that first post, so the rest of this is just blah blah blah from the both of us.

See, Stew, it wasn't that hard to admit I had a point about Toyota
still offering 4x4s in more flavors and price ranges than Ford currently
does. Such a simple, basic, noncontroversial point. Why you chose to pick a fight over my original response to
grabberblue is beyond me.

Do you realize you just
complemented the Ranger for being outdated but well loved one post after
criticizing the Tacoma for being outdated? The Tacoma far, far, far outsold the
Ranger and Colorado before they gave up, so this isn't a case of a bad truck currently selling well due to lack of competition. And I hope the upcoming domestics are far better than the Tacoma. If they can't beat a 2005 design after this many years, they truly did deserve bankruptcy.

And
stop using PERIOD. You use it here, you use it everywhere, and no one
is dumb or timid enough to think that you have just won an argument
because of it, PERIOD.

@RESgw@Emajor75@Stew@grabberblue302 Hardly, try again please, just hadn't read this article on these sorry excuses for off-road vehicles in a few days. Seriously they are pitiful, ESPECIALLY the Tundra.

@Emajor75@Stew@grabberblue302 LOL, FOrd makes good business sense. yes Toyota offers both, but how much longer does the 4Runner have left? Are the sales really enough to justify it's existance. I wouldn't be surprised if Ford eventually offered something, but hey, when it comes to SUVs I wouldn't own anything FOrd has, i would take the Cherokee Trailhawk or Grand Cherokee which BOTH offer good on road dynamics, excellent off-road ability and good FE. The 4Runner is kind of a one trick pony. I actually like the 4 runner, well, the pre 14 4Runner, I cannot stand the current Toyota Lexus big mouth styling. The 10-13 looked damn good. Also, we have had this discussion, anti-Toyota goggles? IF you paid any attention I LOVE a lot of older Toyota products, just not this swill with ancient engines they pass off today.

And yes, the Ranger was outdated, but it was still a VERY good little truck. They were built tough and had a good following. It's age DID have to do with why it was discontinued, but ONLY because it didn't meet 2012 government regs, otherwise it would probably still be on the Market. The Colorado and Canyon were maybe 1 year older than the current Tacoma, so potato/po-tah-to there. At least GM realizes when it is time for a replacement. The ONLY reason Toyota sales as many Tacomas as it even does is because it is one of 2 VERY outdated choices PERIOD. The new GM twins ARE VASTLY superior trucks in EVERY way PERIOD. The current Tacoma is suffering from the same issue of many Toyotas, outdated platform and a power-train that are outdated. A domestic fullsize V8 will get better FE than the outdated V6 in the Tacoma

Well, Sport, thanks for pointing out the obvious that CUVs sell
better than purpose-built 4x4s. If that were germane to my original
point, you could congratulate yourself, but since it isn't, strike
one.

You're missing the larger point, that Toyota offers BOTH
the CUV and SUV. And off-road capable pickups in 2 sizes. Ford doesn't.
Not a difficult point to understand, but then you would have to put
down the anti-Toyota goggles for half a second.

The
one thing you typed that has any relevance is that Toyota needs to be on
guard against the new domestic midsizers. That should spur the necessary redesign. But don't get too uppity,
because while the Tacoma is outdated, it was light-years ahead of the
pitiful Colorado and archaic Ranger when they flew the white flag. Abandoning a truck segment because your offering was so badly outdated isn't something to be proud of.

I don't care about a Raptor competitor to go rally across Baja in, that is a nearly irrelevant niche market. I want something decent off road without having to opt for an expensive upgrade trim. I can get that in a Tacoma or 4Runner. Ford doesn't have a competitor for those. Want a Ford that can go off road, it's either FX4, Raptor, or nothing.

The 05 of the Tacoma just works, it looks nice, it's reliable as hell, and it's got what people want that are looking for that size truck. For Full Size there are many more options, I personally would take a Tundra or perhaps an F150, but likely the Tundra because I want the reliability. My buddy has an F150 King Ranch, SUPER NICE! But the truth is, for the money that thing cost, it is NOT worth it. He's put more money into that truck just for basic work than I've ever seen anyone spend on a Toyota. The fact is that things always break, but when you have someone not using the truck to do a ton of work and it still falls apart, there's issues. And for the cost of that truck it should drive for at least 200k, but it won't.

PERIOD! And you are the biggest FORD FANBOY around, but it's fine, just don't present your opinion as fact when it's not.

@Stew@Emajor75@grabberblue302 The Tacoma and Tundra look outdated? So what is outdated? Sure everyone likes the "new style", but really not everyone!Toyota has a winning design with the Tacoma and Tundra, they choose to refine/improve it. And sometimes when it isn't broke, don't fix it. EVERY year FORD comes out with a new model, sure they make some nice cars/trucks, but they end up with issue after issue, recalls over and over, because they rush. I rather a Toyota that's reliable and looks damn good then the latest Ford F150 which is WAY over priced and will have issues until about 3 years down the road when they fix all their mistakes, then they'll redo it again. Why do you see the oldest cars on the road are Honda and Toyota, they last and it's for a reason. Trucks are different, but Ford doesn't and hasn't made a good SUV in a long time, the Ford FLEX? That thing is ugly as hell and over priced. People get sick of spending all that money and then having their car/truck fall apart. You can't find an F150 Double Cab that the average working man who uses the truck can afford. The Tacoma isn't the 3rd or 4th best vehicle for resale value because "there's no other choice", and the FACT Is there have been other choices for years. The Ranger was just a Mazda rebadged that didn't hold up for anything, the frame, suspension, crap, and the inside was like being in a Ford Pinto. The Tacoma holds resale value like the rest of the top 10 vehicles for resale value because of their dependability. Next you will say the FJ Cruiser sucks to, but they pulled that because people don't want to spend the money for gas for a vehicle that is more of a toy, but that's how it goes. As for the Cherokee, really? That's the best you can come up with? They consistently have up & down reviews, but 1 thing never changes, they break down over and over, lose value like you've lost your mind and don't hold up. Cherokee's do not last, it's a fact. How Chrysler can make the Jeep Wranglers like they do, a solid, off-road, well built vehicle that's reliable and fun, then make so many other cars that are crap is unbelievable. The REAL Jeep is the only reason that company is in business. What about the DODGE RAM, Truck of the Year 2 years in a Row?